Facebook to broaden use of safety checks after Paris attacks

San Francisco

DURING the horrific attacks in Paris, Facebook Inc made a tool available for people in the area to let friends know they were safe. "Safety Check" had never been enacted for something that wasn't a natural disaster, and as the death toll rose on Friday the company garnered praise for acting fast.

A few hours later, some users reacted differently: where was Safety Check after suicide bombings in Beirut killed more than 40 people? Or after an attack at Garissa University College in Kenya left 147 dead?